So you’re planning a road trip to the Northwestern region of the United States and want to know which National parks are the most picture-worthy? You’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ve listed five!
Yellowstone National Park (WY, MT, ID)
You can’t have a post about Northwestern National Parks and leave out Yellowstone National Park.
Well, you could. But you’d be wrong!
Because, there’s a reason it’s one of the top 10 most frequented National Parks in all of the United States. Take your pick from an array of picture-worthy spots including rainbow-colored hot springs, active geysers, and a breathtaking 20-mile long canyon that changes colors with the rising and setting sun.
Grand Teton National Park (WY)
If you were hoping to get more snapshots of wildlife in the area, you might be able to see some at Grand Teton National Park. (Nextdoor to Yellowstone!) Bears, bison, moose, elk, and eagles are frequent visitors.
But Grand Teton is more about the scenery. Seriously! It’s stunning.
If you aren’t in a rush, pack a lunch and go for a ride on the 42 Mile Scenic Loop Drive. Two things to look out for are Jenny Lake, and Schwabacher Landing (one of the most photographed mountains in the country.) Driving some of the terrain in the area can be tricky. So, take your time, be cautious and look for safe areas to pull off and take pictures.
Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)
If you don’t experience sea-sickness, head to Kenai Fjords and marvel at this National Park by boat. It’s the smallest National Park in Alaska but that doesn’t mean it’s short on beauty. Glaciers, earthquakes, and ocean storms have masterfully molded it over the centuries into what it is today.
If you aren’t a fan of boats, there are other ways to admire the island, including hiking tours and even flying tours.
Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
Visit Mount Rainier National Park during the summer months and prepare to be blown away by the burst of color throughout the surrounding fields with every kind of wildflower; white avalanche lilies, purple lupine, red paintbrush and pink penstemon to name a few.
For the best view in the house, and photo op, you should wander through the nature trails in Paradise. (Literally, it’s named Paradise. Fitting, right?)
Crater Lake National Park (OR)
True, Crater Lake National Park is the only National Park in all of Oregon. But we didn’t list it out of sheer pity. It made the count on its own, for being pretty spectacular. During summertime, take a drive around the Lake and marvel at just how blue it is, or go for a hike near the waterfalls and volcanic spires. During winter, enjoy sledding or snowmobiling across the thick white blanket of snow.
Have fun
Did we miss some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments!
Or we’ve inspired you to take a trip, take a look at our sister site, HotelCoupons.com before you go for affordable hotel accommodations during your visit. Have fun!
